MiG-21 Bison Fighter Jet of the Indian Air Force Crashed in Rajasthan at around 8:30 PM on Friday. The pilot Wing Commander Harshit Sinha died on the spot. This is the 5th crash and 3rd death in this year related to the same fighter jet.
Eyewitnesses in the nearby villages have reported that the jet caught fire in the air and crashed with a major explosion.
Due to frequent cases of accidents, the MiG Jets are often referred to as “Flying Coffins”.
An enquiry has been ordered by the IAF to find out the exact reason behind the crash.
This evening, around 8:30 pm, a MiG-21 aircraft of IAF met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. Further details are awaited.
An inquiry is being ordered.— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 24, 2021
An Overview of the Accident
The accident took place during a training sortie, in Sudasiri village near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan around 8.30 pm on Friday. The aircraft crashed in the Desert National Park area under the Sam Police Station- Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh told news agency PTI. The SP said local police reached the spot and he is also on the way to the crash site.
According to witnesses, the jet caught fire in the air and crashed with a major explosion with debris spreading over 1 kilometers of radius. The pilot, identified as Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, could not come out of the aircraft before it crashed. The officer died on the spot.
With deep sorrow, IAF conveys the sad demise of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha in the flying accident this evening and stands firmly with the family of the braveheart.
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 24, 2021
The Reason and the History Behind the Frequent Crashes
The frequent crashes have labeled the MiG-21 fighter jet as “Flying Coffin”.
The old Soviet-origin MiG-21s, the first supersonic fighters to be inducted by the IAF in 1963, have had a high crash rate over the years. From 1972 to April 2012, almost 480 crashes have been reported killing 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel, and one aircrew. In the year 2021 itself, 5 crashes have been reported with 3 pilot deaths.
According to government reports, the crashes take place due to both technical and human errors. However, a special enquiry has been ordered by the Indian Air Force to dig out the exact reason behind this unfortunate event.
Responses from Authorities
Apart from IAF, the Chief Minister and the Governor of Rajasthan have expressed their concern and grief over the death of Wing Commander Harshit Sinha.
Governor’s Tweet:
जैसलमेर जिले में मिग-21 विमान दुर्घटना में विंग कमाण्डर श्री हर्षित सिन्हा जी की असामयिक निधन अत्यंत ही दुःखद है। माननीय राज्यपाल श्री कलराज मिश्र जी ने उनके परिजनों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त की। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्मा को अपने श्री चरणों में स्थान प्रदान करे।
ॐ शांति!
— Raj Bhavan Rajasthan (@RajBhavanJaipur) December 24, 2021
Rajasthan CM’s Tweet:
Saddened to know Wing Commander Harshit Sinha lost his life, when a MiG-21 aircraft met with a flying accident in the western sector during a training sortie. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. We share their grief and pray they find strength.
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 24, 2021
